Automatic fire-extinguisher.



H. W. yDQUGHTNI. AUTOMATIC FIRE BXTINGUISHER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. Z9, 1912.

Patented Jan. 14, 1913.

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HOWARD W. DOUGHTY, OF AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUISHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14, 1913.

Application filed April 29,. 1912. Serial No. 693,886.

To all wil-0m t mayiconccrn:

Be it known that I, HOWARD W. DoUGI-ITY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Amherst, in the county of Hampshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Fire-Extinguishers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a portable automatic fire extinguisher of the sprinkler type.

One object of the invention is to provide a self contained automat-ic sprinkling fire extinguisher which requires no central reservoir, no elaborate system of piping-each unit being complete in itself and absolutely independent of every other unit-and which is very simple in construction, thereby insuring cheapness of manufacture, and in which the cost of installment is only that incidental to hanging the extinguisher to a suit-able support.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fire extinguisher of the class described in which an extinguishing liquid of a low boiling point and non-combustibility is employed, and one which readily mixes with any of the organic liquids, such as kerosene, gasolene and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fire extinguisher in which the surface from which evaporation can take place is very restricted.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l represents a vertical longitudinal section of one form of fire extinguisher constructed in accordance with this invention; Fig. Q- represents a horizontal section thereof.

In the embodiment illustrated, a simple form of the invention is shown, comprising a container l, preferably composed of metah and which may be of any suitable or desired shape, the form here shown being that of a cylindrical body having an inverted truncated cone-shaped bottom 2. A tube 3 extends through the top 4 of this container and is secured to said top by any suitable means. This tube 3 is tapered at its upper outer end to form a constricted jet or nozzle 5, and the lower end thereof extends nearly to the bottom of the container.

A suitable cap 6, which may be varied somewhat with the conditions of service, is here shown in the form of a disk having a convex lower face which rests normally on the end of the nozzle 5 and closes it, said cap being held in closed position by means of wires 7 which connect it with a collar 8 loosely mounted on the tube 3 outside the container. A flange or collar 9 is fixed to the tube 3 above or outside of the collar 8 and is positioned to limit the outward movement of said collar, and consequently, prevent the lifting of the cap G beyond a predetermined point. The inner face of the cap 6 may be varied to vary the spreading action of the liquid or vapor sprayed through the nozzle 5, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The container l is provided with an opening 10 in its top, closed by a suitable screw plug 11, and is designed for filling the contairer when necessary with the liquid to be use A suitable tire extinguishing liquid having a low boiling point is used in connection with this container, carbon tetrachlorid being especially adapted for this purpose because of its low boiling point and its volatility. The boiling point of carbon tetrachlorid is about 76 C. or 170o F., a trifle below that of ethyl alcohol and much below that of water. It is more especially adapted for this purpose for the reason that it does not burn or support combustion, and easily forms a vapor which is nearly five and onehalf times as heavy as air, three and onehalf times as heavy as carbon dioxid, and eight and one-half times as heavy as water or steam under similar conditions and pressure. The weight of this vapor is a very important factor in the efciency of the liquid as a means of extinguishing fires, but the efficacy of carbon tetrachlorid as a re extinguisher has been abundantly demonstrated in other forms of fire extinguishers and need not be herein more fully described.

It will be noted that evaporation of the extinguishing liquid can only occur from the surface of the liquid in the nozzle of the tube 3, and this surface is so very small that practically no evaporation takes place.

The size of the apparatus will depend somewhaton the conditions of service, and each unit is complete in itself and independent of any external pipe or reservoir, for which reason it is particularly adapted for use in small store rooms, holds of vessels and other places Where the hydraulic system is not available by reason of the expense of installation and other considerations.

In the use of this extinguisher, it having been lled With liquid and the plug 11 replaced, the device is suspended in any suitable location Where it Will remain indetinitely ready for use. When the temperature in the vicinity of the device is raised beyond a predetermined point the heat causes the carbon tetrachlorid or other liquid Within the container to boil, thereby producing an expansive vapor, the pressure of which forces the liquid up and out of the tube 3, thereby lifting the cap 6 and permitting the stream of liquid to escape through the nozzle 5 and impinge on the lower face of said cap 6 by means of which it is spread out or sprayed over a considerable area, the spraying of the liquid being varied according to the shape of the lower face of the cap.

A plurality of these extinguishers are de* signed to be positioned in a room to be protected at various points to enable all parts of the floor and Walls of the room to be reached by the tire extinguishing liquid sprayed from the containers when the temperature is raised in the room beyond a predetermined point.

I claim as my invention:

A portable automatic lire extinguisher comprising a container, a tube extending through said container and having a nozzle on its outer end, a collar loosely mounted on the outer end of said tube, a cap arranged to close said nozzle and connected with said collar, and a stop on said tube between said collar and its outer end to limit the outward movement of the collar, and consequently the outward movement of said cap.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Copies cf th'is patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

